Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16794, Luther Fitch, Conn. Privateer

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Fitch, Luther
S 16794
Privateer.
Carded
CONTENTS
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Connecticut N o 28.27
Luther Fitch
New Haven in the State of Connecticut who was a drummer in the Comp y . commanded by Captain Ripley of the Reg t commanded by Col. Douglass in the Connecticut Privateer line for 12 months 14 days (Special)
died 7 th April 1833 children
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 45 Dollars 71 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 th day of April 1834 and S. Miss New Haven
arrears to the 7 th of April 1833 95. 25 c Semi-ann. allowance ending
$ 95. 25 c
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by R. Brundage Clerk Book E 2 Vol. _____ Page 14
See letter to A. Holden Jan. 8. 1835 Dep. Secy. Let to Luther D. Fitch Feb. 20. 1835
Henry Elyon Miller, Luther D. Fitch, John M. Julia B. Kingsbury - children

Luther Fitch Ct. Roll
Luther D. Fitch Geo. Town D.C.

Georgetown Feb 19 1835
The certificate of a pension in favour of Esther Fitch deceased, of New Haven Connecticut, was not honoured with payment on being presented at the pay office in Hartford because the power of attorney of one of the heirs had been made more than twenty days. The facts are these, there are five heirs, viz. Fanny Fitch, living in New Haven at the time the certificate was obtained, now living in Becket, Berkshire County Mass. Eliza H Mills living also in Becket, John M c Fitch, & Julia B. Kingsley living in Hindburn, Portage County Ohio, and myself living in Georgetown I. C. four of the heirs gave power of attorney to Fanny Fitch to receive  collect the money, but before the necessary papers could be collected 90 days had passed and the money was not paid. The papers together with the certificate on or about 27 th of January last were then enclosed, and from the post office in West Becket directed to the Pension office at Washington requesting Mr Edwards to suspend the rule in this case  which which requires

that powers of attorney shall be presented in 90 days, in consequence of the difficulty of collecting the necessary papers from the distant and different heirs within the time allowed, and to direct his decision to Joseph L. Mills Becket Berkshire County Mass. These papers have not been received at the pension office Luther D Fitch
the above Instrument Certifies & Sworn to before the subscriber a justice of the peace in and for Washington County District of Columbia this 19 th day of February 1835
Joel Brown

I, Luther D. Fitch, son of Luther Fitch deceased, subscriber to the foregoing declaration, a resident of said town of New Haven hereby Certify: that my father Luther Fitch aforesaid subscriber, died on the 7th. of April last. That I was personally knowing to his making un- usual efforts, travelling to Windham and Norfolk and other places to procure evidence to sus- tain his declarations above for a pension, - and procuring all the evidence in his power, written or oral - That during the last year of his life, his memory failed him much, and that he probably was not as precise on some points as otherwise he might have been; that he en- trusted all who were contemporaries in service with himself for evidence who survived at the time of his above declaration; that I have often heard him for many years give much the same account of his services, in all respects, as contain- ed in his above declaration, - and of his going to Roxbury in 1775 after the Lexington ap- pear 6 months, of his going again to Cambridge and Boston the next winter 2 months, and of his going to Norneck and Stamford the summer after, and of going to Providence, and of his being stationed near New Haven and Beacon Hill one month, and many small circumstances connected with his services and his sufferings at Stamford; - That he being dead, no answer can be given to Query V. as requi-

red by the list of objections from the Pension Department; that I have made considerable inquiries of old people respecting his services - and can obtain no additional testimony to his former certificates, except that of his sister Jerusha Beers, whose depositions is annexed, and for whose return those papers have been delayed; that I have often heard my father say he served more than a year in the Revolutionary service. Witness my hand at New Haven this 10 th . day of November A. D. 1833.
Luther D Fitch
Sworn to and subscribed the aforesaid fifth day of November A. D. 1833, before me; who also certify that said Luther D. Fitch is a respectable and credible man.
Silas Mix Justice of the Peace.

State of Connecticut, } County of New Haven } ss. New Haven City
On this 8th. Day of August A.D. 1832. personally appeared in open court before the County Court of New Haven County now sitting in said City, Luther Fitch a resident of said City, in the County of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, aged 74 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, viz. That he was born in 1758, December 10th, in the Town of Windham Connecticut, that he never had any record of his age and does not know that any  but one now exists in the the Town of Windham in the public records, a copy of which he has seen . That he continued at Windham till the age of twenty one, or about when, as appears by his own book,  he thinks he came to New Haven to live, in the summer of 1778; that he continued to live in New Haven until February 1798, when he went to live in Torrington Connecticut, & continued to live there 12 years, when in April 1810 he returned to New Haven, & has continued there to reside up to the present time: That, in the 18th. year of his age, in the year 1775, sometime in the summer, after the battle of Bunker Hill, he enlisted for five months, he thinks, for six months , in Capt. John Ripley's company. Chamberlain of Andover.

society in Windham was lieutenant, Pam of Lebanon in said Windham County Ct. was ensign, John White of Windham was orderly sergeant, sergeant Badger of Windham was also in the company; the company was commanded attached to a regiment, raised by authority of the State of Connecticut, & a bounty of 40 dol- lars for enlisting was paid to each private, to the applicant, who enlisted as a drummer , recollects of that bounty being paid to him by Capt. Ripley; that said Regiment was com- manded by DeDedias Huntington of Norwich as Colonel, Douglas was Lieut. Col.
Brown was Major, who belonged in Coventry Conn. — Rev. Mr. Ellis was Chaplain; that said company started from Windham, and the applicant recollects of a sermon being preached the day they left by the Rev. Mr. White; the com- pany proceeded through Pomfret, Dudley and en- camped at Roxbury, 3 miles from Boston, west of the meeting house, Col. Huntington was there with part of the Regiment when the company arrived; our general was Gen. Ward, and from him the General orders proceeded, until Gen. Washing- ton arrived, Col. Farnbull was brigade Major of the brigade; Col. Webb, he thinks, of Watertown Conn. had a regiment, had a regiment encamped lit- tle north of the regiment to which the applicant was attached; the enemy occasionally fired their cannon balls in upon us, and one man of the regiment was accidentally killed; and the com-

pany and regiment continued there encamped, until the term of five months expired, when they were discharged; and the applicant, remembers of returning to Windham, in company with Charles Forster, Jonathan Jennings, and Nehemiah H. Boy, all belonging to Windham, - through Providence, Coventry & Plainfield, in November, coldish weather, he thinks; he remained at home until next winter, when he again enlisted as a drummer for two months , to go on to the attack against Boston, under Capt. Davis of Mansfield Conn. Amasa Wright of said Mansfield was Lieutenant and Nathaniel Wales of said Town of Windham was Subj. in a company raised by the authority of the State of Connecticut; the applicant does not recollect the names of the Colonel, Lieutenant Col., or Major of the Regiment to which he was attached, Dr. Thomas Gray of Windham was Surgeon of the Regiment; Hearn Fitch of Windham, & Humphrey of Mansfield, were two of the Sergeants; and part of the company to which the applicant was attached, under Subj. Wales, marched in through Pomfret, Thompson & Dudley, to Conn. bridge, in the winter of '76 ; where we found the rest of the Regiment, and said company was quartered in one of the college buildings at Cambridge, and used to be employed in keeping guard at Lechmore's point, where fort No. 4. was placed; he recollects that a short time before the command on Boston commenced General Washington reviewed the whole army which was then said to be 20,000 men, and that Gen. Putnam was there; he recollects that the American forces were stretched from Cambridge to Roxbury at different points, a distance of 6 miles, and boats were prepared to transport the troops into Boston, and a

fire was kept up principally from Cambridge to draw the attention of the enemy from the fort that was ere- cting on Dorchester heights, which was built up in one night, every thing having been previously prepared, a part of the time the applicant was at Roxbury, he recollects of being at the fort on Lechmere's point at Cam- bridge, the 82 & 24 pounders kept a constant fire on the town all night, of the enemy constantly fired in return, and the applicant contin- ued at Roxbury until Gen. Howe had completely evacu- ated the town of Boston, and soon after was discharged, he thinks in April, the two months having expired, and he returned home on foot through Sudbury and Rupert; and he then continued at Windham till the next summer, and served as a drummer in the company of militia commanded by Capt. Bissell in Windham, & sometime in the summer the mi- litia was either drafted or volunteered to go on to New York; and Captain Bissell's  King's company of militia went on with the regiment of Colonel Storrs of Mansfield, Gen. Howe of Mansfield was adjutant of the Regiment, the applicant, as drummer, went on with Capt. King's Bissell's company, through Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Fairfield & Stamford, Rye & Horse Neck, to East Chester, and there encamped, and at that time Gen. Washington's army retreated to Harlem while they were encamped at East Chester; & the com- pany remained some weeks at East Chester, until Col. Storrs was ordered on to York Island, & was station- ed opposite Fort Washington between Harlem & King's bridge, and there remained some weeks; while there the company & regiment went to Frogg's point about 8 miles from guard, 24 hours, & in the morning Ad- jutant Howe was wounded by a musket ball in the abdo- men, of which he died that night; and retreated to White Plains with the American army to White

Plains, and the Regiment of Col. Horns Regiment was stationed on the hill west of the town, with other regiments and threw up a breast breast work on the hill, & the British army at Fogg's Point marched out, & were in sight of Col. Horns' Regiment the day of the battle of White Plains, which was about two miles from where the applicant was encamped; the enemy during the fight was and concealed in part by woods; and about noon approached where the applicant was encamped, & kept up a cannonade with the force where he was stationed until night; and the next day Col. Horns had ordered to retreat to Peekskill, & encamped east of the town, & threw up a breast-work; he (the applicant) recollects of seeing Gen. Lee & Gen. Heath there; and the regiment being sick by fatigue, and the want of provisions, and and the applicant be- sick with a bilious fever, he was permitted to go to Stamford to recruit, and was confined there near a fort night, 600 of the American troops were there sick at the same time; and while there, the Regiment was discharged, and the applicant returned home sometime the latter part of November, having served or four three months, he thinks; & continued at Windham until the next winter, attached as a drummer to the company of Capt. Bissell of Windham, Solomon Linker was Lieu- tenant, Jesse Fiter was one of the sergeants; and in the winter while the British were in Newport, said company either volunteered or was drafted to go to Providence, R. Island, & marched through Plain- field, Bohemia, Coventry to Providence, the appli- cant still being a drummer; Gen. Spencer comman- ded, as near as the applicant recollects; Capt. Bissell's company and was barracked in the houses east side of the river north

of the bridge, and afterwards by the Rev. Mr. Snow's me- ting house at  west of the river and south of the bridge; and there continued until discharged; & then re- turned with Elathan Warner & Sergeant Fitch to Wind- ham, in March or April he thinks, having been at Providence or two months six weeks; & then continued to work in Wind- ham at the trade of a shoe-maker, until for a con- siderable time; and then moved to New Haven, and while there enlisted as a substitute for one month, in a company of militia stationed at East Haven, near New Haven, guarding the coast & building a fort on beacon hill, - for a soldier from the country who wanted to go home one month, his exact name is not recollected, and barracks on the shore, William Austin now living in New Haven, was in the same company; applicant Imbach Fitch of Windham now living there was with the in the campaign of 2 months to take Bos- ton in the winter of 1776; (+ 1752) that he never received any written discharge; that he is known to Jeremiah Day, Linus Baldwin, Nathan Smith, David Daggett, Deacon William Austin, Deacon Nathan Beers now a pension- er, Reverend Nathaniel W. Taylor, who live in his immediate neighborhood in New Haven, who can tes- tify to his veracity & their belief of his services, in the revolution, and to Samuel Day & Samuel Perkins in Windham, who can also testify to his veracity & their belief in his services; that he has no documentary evi- dence of his service.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that

his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Attest J. B. Beach Clerk
Luther Fitch
We Leonard Bacon a clergyman residing in the city of New Haven, and Hon. Ralph J. Ingersoll — residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Luther Fitch, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 74 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
R. J. Ingersoll
Leonard Bacon
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Attest J. B. Beach Clerk
I, William Austin, of the town of New Haven, hereby certify, that sometime in the year 1779, I think, I was drafted from a company of militia, commanded by Capt. Samuel Huggins of New Haven, and was for a time stationed on the East Haven shore, engaged in building the Beacon Hill fort and performing guard; I perfectly recollect that Luther Fitch, subscriber of the above declaration was there, doing active duty, and am well acquainted with said Fitch, who is a man of veracity & entitled to credit.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Attest J. B. Beach Clerk
Wm Austin

I, Thomas Painter, of Orange in New Haven county, hereby certify, that in the fall of 1780, as near as I can recollect, in November, I sailed in the Letter of Marque brig Fivebrand, from New Haven bound to the West Indies; said brig had 10 guns, about 30 men, provided with small arms, and well armed; we carried out a cargo; Francis de Celine, was Captain; said brig acted as convoy to several vessels for New London and Newport; we went to the West Indies, and returned about the 1st. of May, being about 5 or 6 months; & that Luther Fitch, subscriber of the above declara- tion, was on board as a sailor & marine; and that I have known him ever since, and believe him 74 years of age, & entitled to full credit.
Given & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Albert H. Beach Clerk Thomas Painter
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department hereby certify of their opinion, that the above named applicant was a vol- untary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Rev. Leonard Bacon is a clergyman residing in New Haven, and that Rev. Ralph J. Housall, William Austin and Mrs. Painter are citizens, the two first resident in New Haven & the last in Orange, that they have signed the above certificate, and are credible persons that their statements are entitled to credit.
By order of Court Albert H. Beach Clerk I, Mrs. Beach, Clk. of the County Court of New Haven County, do hereby certify that the foregoing copy contains the original proceedings of said court, in the matter of the application of Luther Fitch for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 5th day of August A.D. 1832. Albert H. Beach Clerk

16794 INVALID.
No. 16794
Luther Fitch
Dummer Rev War
Act: June 7 th 39
Box:—Vol. / , Page 126
[Arrangement of 1870.]

5386
Luther Litch died 7 April 1833.
12 th 14 days Drummer
Certificate to Children
Le. 5. 6. 13. 16.
W. Mix
New Haven Returned again
Ino Beach Esq New Haven Conn
2 - 45. 71
3 - 45. 71
3. 80 95. 22

5380
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Luther Fitch which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? — no V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? — no VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? no VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
evidence in the same amount to little
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? — no —
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For — year — months and — days, I served as a —. For — months and — days, I served as a —; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
† QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Claimant should adduce the best evidence in his power to prove his services — He should endeavor to state whether there survivors of each term of service —
The claimant being dead
The original claimant having died, the name of his widow, or if he left none of his children must be certified in order that the certificate may be issued to the person or persons entitled according to law name of children or of widow not certified

We William H. Ellis, Nathan Beers, Thomas Hubbard and Flever Mansfield.
Living in New Haven, hereby certify that we were well acquainted with Luther Fite who has signed the foregoing declaration, and who deceased at New Haven in April last; and that he was, rep- utable, worthy and industrious citizen; and a worthy Dick-morse by occupation, — believed, where he lived and was known, to be a soldier and to have served in the Revolution; and was a man of strict veracity whose word was entitled to implicit faith and credit.
Wm H. Ellis
Collector of the Dist. of N. Haven
Nathan Beers Lieutenant late Revolutionary Army Thos. Hubbard M.D., Professor in Medical Inst- tution of Yale College Flever Mansfield
Sworn to and subscribed before me, at different times before November 10 th . A. D. 1833; and I hereby certify that said William H. Ellis, Nathan Beers, Thomas Hubbard and Flever Mansfield are credible persons.
Silas Mix Justice of the Peace.

New Haven County Ss. New Haven City Nov. 5. A. D. 1833.
The foregoing contain the original and amended proceedings of the County Court for the County of New Haven, State of Connecticut, & I hereby certify that Silas Mix, whose own proper handwriting & signature is subscribed to three of the foregoing certificates, is a justice of the peace in and for said county and for more than one year past has been duly qualified and sworn. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said court at New Haven this 5th. day of November A. D. 1833.
Wm Beach Clerk
New Haven County Ss. New Haven November 16. 1833.
Personally appeared before me, Silas Mix the undersigned, a justice of the peace above named — Luther D. Fitch aforesaid, who made solemn oath that Luther Fitch the above named declarant left no widow, and that his children now living are Fanny Smith Fitch, Eliza Mills, Luther D. Fitch, John M. Fitch, Julia B. Kingsley, of said county & New Haven; and I do hereby certify accordingly, and that said Luther D. Fitch is a creditable person.
Silas Mix Justice of the peace

I, Jerusha Beers of the town and County of New Haven, State of Connecticut, Sister of Luther Fitch who has subscribed the annexed declaration hereby certify - That I distinctly recollect, in the year 1775, say June, when I was 12 years of age, being about four years younger than my 20. brother Luther, that my brother enlisted for 6 months in Capt. John Ripley's company of Militia volunteers, to go on to Cambridge after the battle of Lexington - That a sermon was preached by Mr. White on occasion of the departure of said company; that it started in said month of June to join the army - That we heard from my brother Luther often while with the army; that said company returned in the fall after an absence of 6 months, disbanded and in small parties, - my brother was a drummer; -
That I further distinctly recollect that soon after his return he was called on to leave on Sunday - which day I well remember - to go on to Boston, for as long as two months - and after the surrender of Boston to General Washington on his return - he went on as a drummer - having enlisted in the Militia company. - That about the summer of 1776 - I well recollect I was in New Haven, when my brother came on as one of the troops to go on to Horse Neck and New York - I know of his being sick with bilious fever, while absent that time at Stamford, and have often heard of his extreme suffering during that expedition; and recollect of his returning in cold weather after

an absence of above four months to my recollection. —
That he remained here after his return at this last time in the fall of sometime 1778 — and then going  went with the company to Providence the next year — the British being at or near them — and of his being absent at that time two months; &
That I think he must have served over a year with the army at different times du- ring the revolution — I always had that idea and have often heard him say he could make out as many as 13 months service — That he ever had the reputation of a man of ge- nerosity and strict integrity — and having heard his aforesaid declaration read, believe it to be correct, from his own account du- ring his life time. Witness my hand this 10 th . day of November A. D. 1833.
Jerusha Beers
Sworn to and subscribed before me the 10 th . day of November A. D. 1833; who also certify that said Jerusha Beers is an aged, respectable lady and a credible witness.
Silas Mix Justice of the Peace.

I, THOMAS DAY , Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and Keeper of the Seal thereof, do hereby certify and make known to whom it doth or may concern,
That Thomas Gray , Esquire, is, and for more than one year last past, has been, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Windham in said State, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified, having full power and authority, by the laws of said State, to take the acknowledgment of Deeds and to certify the same; also to administer oaths to witnesses and to take Affidavits and Depositions out of Court, and to give certificates thereof; and that full faith and credit may and ought to be given to the official acts and attestations of the said Justice, in Court and Country.
In testimony whereof, I have, in my capacity of Secretary as aforesaid, hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, at the City of Hartford, in said State, the Thirty first day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty thirty two
Thomas Day

Declaration etc. of Luther Fitch of New Haven. for Pension.
State entitled with him into the above Complaint as a defendant & personally therefor named David P. ...

State of Connecticut } ss Windham July 28th. 1832 Windham County }
We Hezekiah Ripley and John Baldwin residing in the Town of said Windham certify that we are well acquainted with Mr. Luther Fitch formerly of the said Town of Windham now of the City of New Haven in the State of Connecticut that we believe him to be Seventy four years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood in the said Town of Windham where he resided during the revolutionary war to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion and that he is reputed to be a man of truth and veracity - Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid -
Hezekiah Ripley
John Baldwin
Before Thomas Gray Justice of the Peace
State of Connecticut. } ss Windham July 28. 1832 County of Windham }
Personally appeared Samuel Gray & Saml Perkins Esq rs both of Windham aforesaid before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for said County of Windham after being sworn according to law say that they are well acquainted with Mr. Luther Fitch, & that he is reputed & believed in said Town of Windham where he resided during the Revolutionary war to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that they concur in that opinion, Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Saml Gray
Saml Perkins
Before Thomas Gray Justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut, County of Windham ss Windham July 28. 1882
The deposition of Shubael Fitch of Windham is as follows. That in the month of January 1776 he enlisted into a company of Connecticut State troops under Ensign Nathl. Wales; Capt. Dana of Mansfield commanded 1 st Company & Amasa Wright was Sergeant, & went to the attack on Boston, and that Suther Fitch his brother then of Windham now of New Haven in 1 st State enlisted with him into the same Company as a drummer & personally performed said Campaign of two months with him at Cambridge & Roxbury in Massachusetts & that they were at Roxbury when the enemy left Boston, and that this is the only campaign that I performed in person with him. The Deponent further states that he personally knew that his brother Suther Fitch enlisted into Capt. Rappley's Company in the summer of 1775 & went to Roxbury, Mass. & was gone from home thro' the summer & was as I suppose with the army.
He also states that he personally knew that he was drafted in the militia in the summer of 1776. he thinks, in August, & went in Capt. Bissell's Company 1 st Col. Storrs' Regiment to New York & White Plains, & returned home late in the fall of the same year.
He also states that he also personally knew that his brother Suther, was in Capt. Bissell's Company as a drummer in the winter of 1777 & was detached & went to Providence in Rhode Island, and was gone as he thinks about two months & then returned to Windham & that he was reputed to have been in the army while he was gone from home, at each of said times above mentioned. - and further the Deponent

Further, was in Capt. Bissell's Company as a drummer The winter of 1777 was detached & went to Providence in Rhode Island, and was gone as he thinks about two months when returned to Windham & that he was reputed to have been in the army while he was gone from home, at each of said times above mentioned. - and further the Deponent saith not
Shubael Litch
State of Connecticut } Windham County } to Windham July 28. 1832
Personally appeared Mr. Shubael Litch of Windham aforesaid being to me well known to be a person of truth & whose statements are entitled to credit and made solemn oath to the truth of the facts stated in the foregoing deposition by him subscribed
Before Thomas Gray Justice of the Peace

Declaration of Luther Fitch of New Haven for Vandalia.
P. 6.
№ 5386.

That in the year 1780 he thinks in November, he enrolled himself on board the Letter of Marque Brig Firebrand, of New Haven, intending to sail for the West Indies with some cargo of hoop staves, vines and horses; that she had 10 iron guns, and was provided with swords, cutlasses, pistols, muskets and boarding pikes, and about 30 men; that Amariah Jocelin of New Haven was Captain; Caleb Howbridge was 1st. mate or lieutenant, Stephen Howbridge was 2d. mate, Leverett Hubbard was surgeon, Benjamin Smith was gunner, one Maxwell was boatswain, - Thomas Kinten now living in Orange then a part of New Haven, was first seaman, who can certify to the applicants being with him; that the applicant shipped in the capacity of marine and sailor; and said letter of marque sailed, he thinks the last of November with a convoy of four or five vessels bound to New London & Newport, which we left off New London, and which this (the west) side off New London several large British boats came out from Long Island to cut off some of our vessels, and we in disguise prepared for action, thinking we too strong returned, and the vessels under our convoy got out of their reach; and the next morning when the brig Firebrand was outside of Montauk Point, two frigates made chase for us, but the Firebrand outtailed them and reached New London safe; staid there some days; and then proceeded to St. Vincente in a passage of 19 days, - and then went to Grenada, staid there sometime and took in part of cargo; and then went down to Hispaniola, and were then put on short allowance and returned to New Haven & reached it about the 1st. of May 1781 & were chased in the sound by a British armed vessel, but had no engagement.